Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cheltenham

For one person, living costs are similar in Lisbon and in Cheltenham: $2,223 and $2,327 a month, rent and utilities included.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Cheltenham
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,327
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Cheltenham

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Cheltenham actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,223 in Lisbon versus $2,327 in Cheltenham.

  • Lisbon $2,223
  • Cheltenham $2,327

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,271 in Lisbon versus $3,528 in Cheltenham.

  • Lisbon $3,271
  • Cheltenham $3,528

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,319 in Lisbon versus $4,729 in Cheltenham.

  • Lisbon $4,319
  • Cheltenham $4,729

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 4% less than in Cheltenham, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Cheltenham 72% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cheltenham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50 €14.67
$23.67 £17.75
-30.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 €54.5
$105 £79.1
-41.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 €10.03
$11.03 £8.28
2.18%
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.72
$4.89 £3.67
-37.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €2.01
$2.56 £1.92
-11.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.54
$1.74 £1.31
-0.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €3.02
$7.76 £5.82
-56.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €3.02
$6.54 £4.91
-48.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cheltenham
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.73 £1.30
-35.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.65
$1.71 £1.29
8.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 €1.36
$1.99 £1.49
-23.12%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.53
$4.43 £3.33
-10.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 €11.35
$8.19 £6.15
55.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.02
$9.59 £7.19
-17.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.97 €15.09
$13.09 £9.82
29.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$3.10 £2.32
-26.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.43 £1.07
22.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$1.93 £1.45
-4.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 €2.28
$3.49 £2.62
-26.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
$1.52 £1.14
22.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$1.51 £1.13
33.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.28
$1.21 £0.91
19.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.73
$1.42 £1.07
-42.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56 €5.83
$23.12 £17.35
-71.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 €5.00
$10.63 £7.98
-47.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.14
$2.86 £2.15
-55.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.84
$2.93 £2.20
-29.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cheltenham
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 €2.09
$3.44 £2.58
-31.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.18 €39.30
$92.5 £69.4
-52.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.55
$3.53 £2.65
13.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 €0.97
$1.64 £1.23
-33.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.64 €14.81
$26.85 £20.14
-38.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.87 £1.40
21.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.0K
$37.1K £27.8K
-9.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €35.0K
$41.2K £30.9K
-4.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cheltenham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 €149
$341 £256
-50.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.80 €16.72
$17.10 £12.83
9.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.09 €29.43
$51.0 £38.24
-35.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cheltenham
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 €40.93
$44.28 £33.22
3.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19 €17.07
$39.01 £29.27
-50.81%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 €8.75
$14.00 £10.50
-29.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cheltenham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$677 €602
$2,020 £1,516
-66.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K €15.1K
$25.2K £18.9K
-32.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cheltenham
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €90.1
$98.2 £73.7
3.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76 €40.70
$48.22 £36.18
-5.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 €88.9
$106 £79.4
-5.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €109
$96.9 £72.7
26.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cheltenham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 €1,436
$1,161 £871
38.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 €1,065
$929 £697
28.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,862 €2,545
$2,149 £1,613
33.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,990 €1,770
$1,617 £1,213
23.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,577 €6,740
$5,704 £4,279
32.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,307 €3,831
$5,676 £4,258
-24.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cheltenham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,588 €1,412
$4,753 £3,566
-66.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
5.54
-30.51%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Last update for Cheltenham: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Cheltenham
$929 22.4% $269
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$269
Cheltenham
$292 8.4% $23
Eating Out
Lisbon
$242
Cheltenham
$350 44.6% $108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$219
Cheltenham
$409 86.3% $189
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Cheltenham
$157 5.6% $9.3
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$66
Cheltenham
$72 10% $6.6
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Cheltenham
$118 87.3% $55

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,614 in Lisbon and $1,161 in Cheltenham. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cheltenham pays 199% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $61.0 in Lisbon vs $105 in Cheltenham for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $292 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇬🇧 Cheltenham
🕒 Local time
14:40 2:40 PM
14:40 2:40 PM
Same time as Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
115,300
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Cheltenham 1,570 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Cheltenham

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lisbon vs Cheltenham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cheltenham cheaper than Lisbon?
Lisbon is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Cheltenham?
On paper, salaries run 199% lower in Cheltenham. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Cheltenham?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,614 in Lisbon versus $1,161 in Cheltenham. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Cheltenham?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $105 in Cheltenham. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Cheltenham?
All in, you'll spend $2,223 per month in Lisbon versus $2,327 in Cheltenham – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Cheltenham?
At $2,223 in Lisbon versus $2,327 in Cheltenham, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Cheltenham. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Cheltenham more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cheltenham, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Cheltenham?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Cheltenham are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Cheltenham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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